Local Impact - Oklahoma

Allen Dale, Navajo

Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) Get SET & Fight Diabetes Program

"One day, I sat down to untie my shoes. There was a knot in one of the shoes. I bent down to untie it and struggled. I was out of breath from bending over! I tried several times and finally got it untied. I knew something had to be done."
- Allen Dale

He weighed 280 lbs., had no energy and his blood sugar level was high. Earlier that week he had received a letter from OKCIC about a “Get SET & Fight Diabetes” program.

In his mind he was too embarrassed to exercise in front of other people. However, after much indecision, he decided to attend the program.

He then started working out at the wellness center three times a week, walking on the treadmill for eight minutes “the best I could do”.

He now works out 1 1/2 hours, 4 to 5 times a week. Made a complete diet change. And has lost 100 pounds. Allen loves to cook and has changed many recipes that he now shares with patients at cooking demonstrations.

Diabetes in Oklahoma

According to 2008 CDC data, approximately 276,000 people in Oklahoma – 9.6% of the state’s population – had diagnosed diabetes, and many of them suffer from serious complications or conditions. In addition to the human toll diabetes places on people in Oklahoma, the financial burden diabetes places on the health system in the state is staggering – in 2007, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Oklahoma was approximately $1.87 billion.